The European Adventure!

Sorry for the delay.  Although I am unemployed, life has a way of being busy and hectic.  Or I am making excuses for being lazy, or I have been waiting for the right moment to write about the trip... hopefully the time is now.

Ok, I have to start like this; the trip was, amazing, beautiful, stupendous, outrageous, overwhelming, educational, expansive, eye-opening, extravagant, exotic, life/personality changing, influential, and down right fucking fun.

Tim admiring the view.

Before making the decision to go, I was afraid to say yes, well, because I had never been to Europe.  A new country, language and culture.  It's scary, not to mention it is across the pond.  But why?  Why is it that 'we' as Americans have a stigma that European travel is for the elite?  Reserved for those who are off beat, off culture (this may be true about me)?  However, what I am getting at is this;  Planning a two month cross-country road trip was no big deal.  Making the final decision to go to Spain was nerve racking.  I am so happy I decided to go.  The fact that Spain is exotic, foreign, and beautiful made the trip all the more.

I could write about every single event, the trip day by day.  But, this blog post would be the longest blog post ever and I'm sure no one would want to read it.  Therefore, I am going to talk about the experience.  Actually that is a lie, I'm going to talk about the trip in whatever manner I feel.

There wasn't one thing about Spain I didn't like.  The food, people, language, wine, and climbing... great.  Oh my god the climbing.  There is a reason Spain is the sport climbing capitol of the world.  The province of Catalunya is a sport climbers paradise.  Tim and I got to sample three areas.  We began our trip in Siurana, then migrated to Margalef, spent a couple days climbing at Terredets, and went back to Margalef for our final days. 

Siurana, Sector Campi Qui Pugui

I must also include this.  I am thrilled that my first trip to Europe was a climbing trip.  Yes, I am bias.  However, since it was a climbing trip I got to see Catalunya, not only Barcelona.  I met real Spaniards, ate amazing local food/vegetables, and got a sense for rural Spain.  Something that I apprecaited more then Barcelona. 

The trip began in Barcelona.  Tim and I arrived the day before my birthday.  Barcelona breaths history, just look at it's architecture.  The narrow ally ways, gorgeous stone structures, the churches, cobble stone streets... Navigating Barcelona is less then desirable.  Once he and I had found a reasonably priced hotel we set out for a night of debauchery.  We had to, how often do you turn 25 in Barcelona? 

Back streets of Barcelona off of La Rambla.

The food and the atmosphere, the feel of Barcelona is amazing.  Walking around La Rambla was freeing.  I was in Spain, the weather was perfect, the cafe con leche delicious, there were people everywhere and the city is alive.  Did I mention clean?  There was no trash anywhere.

Human statues in Barcelona.  It was freaky when they would move. 

  After a crazy night, Tim and I enjoyed one last espresso in Barcelona, packed up our rental car (an awesome Skoda Fabia), and headed for Siurana.  To get to Siurana you head south and east out of Barcelona along C-32.  We knew Barcelona and the province of Catalunya boarded the Mediterranean, however it doesn't set in that you are actually on the Mediterranean until you see it!

Yes, of course I had to get my feet wet.  THE WATER WAS FREEZING!  I enjoyed the blissful, freezing cold Mediterranean for less then 10 seconds before my feet froze.  It was worth it.
    
After getting painfully lost in Reus, Tim and I found our way to Siurana.  Wow.  Epic.  Beautiful.  We spent the afternoon exploring the crags we would climb at for the next three days.  We stayed in a wonderful Bungalow at Camping Siurana.  It is run by an older gentleman and his family.  His son, Toni, who is in his early 40's is an avid climber and route developer in Siurana.  One night at dinner, Tim and I sat should to should with Chris Sharma and saw Dani Andrada at breakfast. 

One of the many crags in Siurana

The climbing was great.  The first few days were hard.  Tim and I had not climbed routes in a while.  The climbing was cruxy, thin and vertical.  A lot like Rumney, except Limestone.

Our next destination was Margalef.  My personal favorite.  Which is not fare to say because everywhere we went was amazing and the climbing was great everywhere.  But I was most partial to Margalef.  The climbing in Margalef is predominately pockets and tufas.  Awesome.

Margalef

   Looking at Margalef from a distance it is breath taking.  But the rock doesn't look that good.  Well, that changes once you are standing at the base of these Limestone crags.  The climbing was so much fun!!! We stayed in a great hotel.  30 euro's a night per person gets you a room with a bathroom, breakfast and dinner.  I'm not talking about a continental breakfast and a so so dinner.  Both meals were phenomenal.  Joseph, the owner was the most gracious host I have ever encountered.  He spoke no English and we barley spoke Spanish.  Interactions were interesting.

Our next stop was Terradets.  Tom and Jay joined our journey and our crew grew!  Terredets was sick!  But extremely hard to climb at.  All the climbs were long and pumpy.  I need a tutorial in Tufa climbing.  After two days of getting worked, we decided to spend the remainder of our trip at Margalef.

All in all the trip was overwhelmingly excellent.  The climbing was terrific, the people I met cool, down to earth and interesting.  I love the cars they drive in Europe.  Fuel efficient and small.  Ask me how many SUV's I saw?  None, oh wait pickup trucks?  Two, both diesel powered Mitsubishi.  Our 1.3 liter, three cylinder Skoda got 47 MPG.  Genius.     

One night after drinking, one of our crew members decided to rename the Skoda the scrotum and exemplify his opinion by drawing in the dirt on the windows. 

I can talk for ever about the trip.  I'm sure I have sounded redundent enough.  Final thoughts.  I am infatuated with Spanish culture.  Especially the climbing community.  Yes, I am scheming of ways to move there.  16 days was not long enough.  A lifetime isn't.  I am intoxicated with travel.  I can't wait to return, see more of Europe.  Climb in more surreal locations.  See more of the hardest climbs in the world.  Hell, I can't wait to move there!  Why not?  To anyone who thinks going to Europe is not possible.  Go, see for yourself, it is amazing and doable.